Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base (Korat RTAFB)
is a base of the Royal Thai Air Force. It is
located in in central Thailand, located approximately 157 miles
(250 km) northeast of Bangkok and about 5 miles (8 km) south of
Nakhon
Ratchasima (also known as Khorat or Korat), the third largest
city in Thailand.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, the airfield was jointly
operated as a civil airport for Nakhon Ratchasima. This was ended
with the opening of Nakhon Ratchasima Airport in
the early 1990s.

Units

Korat RTAFB is the home of the 1st RTAF Wing, consisting of 3
(101, 102, 103) squadrons. The airfield has a single 9,800 + foot
runway with a single,
full-length parallel taxiway.

102 Squadron flies 15 F-16A-15ADF and 1 F-16B-15ADF Fighting
Falcon air defense airplanes acquired from the USAF and delivered
to the RTAF in 2003 and 2004.These airplanes were acquired under
the code name Peace Naresuan IV.

103 Squadron flies 8 F-16A and 4 F-16B acquired under the code
name Peace Naresuan 1,5 F-16A(out of 6 delivered) under the code
name Peace Naresuan 11,3 F-16A and 4 F-16B acquired from the
Republic of Singapore Air Force and delivered in late 2004.All
F-16s are the block 15 version.

A detachment of 1 UH-1H Irouquois helicopter from 203
Squadron,Wing 2 is also at Korat.

Cope
Tiger

Korat RTAFB is a major facility for the Cope
Tiger exercises, an annual, multinational exercise
conducted in two phases in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cope Tiger involves air forces from the United States, Thailand
and Singapore , as well as
U.S. Marines deployed from
Japan.US Navy aircraft have also
been involved on Cope Tiger. The flying training portion of the
exercise promotes closer relations and enables air force units in
the region to sharpen air combat skills and practice
interoperability with U.S. Forces. Pilots fly both air-to-air and
air-to-ground combat training missions.

More than 1,100 people participate, including approximately 500
U.S. servicemembers and 600 servicemembers from Thailand and
Singapore.

Over the last few years,Cope Tiger has widened to include
CSAR(Combat Search and Rescue) assets and in 2007 for the first
time RTAFB Udon Thani was
also used as a base during this exercise.These included a C-130E
Hercules from 36 Airlift Squadron,374 Airlift Wing(based at Yokoya
AB,Japan)in 2006,and a G-222 and a C-130H from the RTAF in
2007.

Since the 1980s United States Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet
fighters have used Khorat as a base during Cobra Gold
exercises.

USAF Use During The Vietnam
War

Under Thailand's "gentleman's agreement" with the United States,
Korat, and the other Royal Thai Air Force Bases
used by the USAF were considered Royal Thai Air Force bases and
were commanded by Thai officers. Thai air police controlled access
to the bases, along with USAF Security Police, who assisted them in
base defense using sentry dogs, observation towers, and machine gun
bunkers. All United States Air Force personnel were fully armed
after 1965. Command of the USAF units, however, remained with USAF
wing commanders and Seventh Air Force/Thirteenth Air Force headquarters
as part of Pacific Air
Forces (PACAF).

Korat was the location for TACAN station Channel 125
and was referenced by that identifier in voice communications
during air missions.

The mission of the USAF forces at Korat was to conduct
operations in support of U.S. commitments in Southeast Asia North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. During the Vietnam War, pilots from Korat RTAFB
primarily flew interdiction, direct air support, armed
reconnaissance and fighter escort missions.

The USAF mission at Korat RTAFB began in April 1962, when one
officer and 14 airmen were temporarily assigned to the base as the
joint U.S. Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG). U. S. Army personnel
were already stationed at Camp Friendship, a post adjacent south of
the air base. In July 1964, approximately 500 airmen and officers
were assigned to Korat to start the beginning of a tactical fighter
operation. The construction of essential base facilities were
initiated and was completed by October 1964.

The 44th TFS returned to Kadena AB, Okinawa and assignment to
the 18th TFW, but on 31 December 1966, it became only a paper
organization without aircraft. The high loss rate of the F-105s
in the two combat wings at Korat and Takhli RTAFB mandated
the squadron to send its aircraft to Thailand as replacement
aircraft. The 44th remained a "paper organization" until 23 April
1967, when it returned to Korat absorbing the personnel, equipment
and resources of the 421st TFS.

6234th
(Provisional) Tactical Fighter Wing

In April 1965, the 6234th Air Base Squadron was
activated at Korat as a permanent unit to support the TDY fighter
units and their operations. This squadron was in existence until
the end of April when it was deactivated and the 6234th
Combat Support Group, the 6234th Support Squadron, and the
6234th Material Squadron were designated and organized as a result
of a 3 May Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) special order.

The 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing (Provisional)
was activated in April 1965 with Colonel William D. Ritchie, Jr. as
Commander. The Wing had the responsibility for all Air Force units
in Thailand until permanent wings were established at other
bases.

By 1967, Korat RTAFB was home to as many as 34 operating units
and about 6,500 USAF airmen. Korat also housed components of the Royal
Thai Air Force, and a compliment of Royal New Zealand Air Force
(RNZAF) Bristol Freighters. The annual cost
for base operations and maintenance was about $12,000,000. The
monthly average expenditure for munitions was on the order of
$4,360,000.

The 388th TFW lost 48 aircraft in combat during 1967. Seven
others were lost due to non-combat reasons. 43 Pilots and Electronic Warfare Officers (EWO)
were listed as killed (KIA) or missing in action (MIA). 15 were rescued.

In mid-1968 it was decided to make the 388th an F-4 Wing, and
also to equip the 388th with the new F-4E and the F-105s would be
transferred to Takhli. The main difference with the F-4E model was
the addition of an internal M61 cannon. The F-4C and D models
previously in use had shown some serious drawbacks in the initial
air-to-air battles over Vietnam. The earlier Sparrow, Falcon, and
Sidewinder air-to-air missiles did not perform up to expectations.
They were expensive, unreliable, and vulnerable to countermeasures.
Many an enemy MiG was able to escape unscathed because a
Phantom-launched missile malfunctioned and missed its target. The
Phantoms could carry a podded cannon mounted on the centerline, but
it was relatively inaccurate, caused excessive drag which reduced
the performance of the Phantom carrying it, and took up a valuable
ordinance/fuel station.

On 17 November 1968, an F-4E Phantom squadron from Eglin
AFB, FL, replaced the single-seat F-105E Thunderchiefs of the
469th TFS. The new Phantom squadron, the first E-models in
Thailand, retained the designation 469th TFS.

On 10 May 1969, the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron was
transferred organizationally to the 347th TFW at Yokota AB, Japan,
but it remained attached to the 388th TFW at Korat. It was
re-equipped with F-4Es on 5 July.

On 12 June 1972, the 35th Tactical Fighter
Squadron flying F-4D's was deployed from the 3rd TFW,
Kusan AB, South Korea, in a "Constant Guard" redeployment to
support operations over North Vietnam during Linebacker. They remained until 10
October 1972 when they returned to Korea.

College
Eye Task Force

The "College Eye" facilities at Korat.

An expansion of combat operations from Korat initiated with the
arrival of EC-121 Warning Stars of the College
Eye Task Force (later designated Det 1, 552d
Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing) from Ubon
RTAFB, and Batcats of the 553d Reconnaissance
Wing. The initial College Eye support team personnel
arrived at Korat on 20 September 1967. Less than a month later, on
17 October the first seven EC-121D aircraft redeployed from Ubon,
followed two days later by the arrival of the Batcat EC-121Rs.

The College Eye EC-121Ds provided airborne radar coverage and
surveillance in support of aircraft flying combat operations.
Combat reconnaissance missions of the 552d
resumed November 25, 1967. These missions normally required the
aircraft to be on station for 8 hours. Including transit time to
and from station, an average flight was typically about 10 hours,
and the force ranged between 5 and 7 aircraft at any one time.

A "College Eye" EC-121D takes off from Korat with an "Batcat"
EC-121R in the foreground.

The mission of the 20 Batcats was to interdict and reduce the
flow of supplies from North Vietnam down the Ho Chi Minh
trail to the NVAsoldiers and Viet Conginsurgents in South Vietnam. Their primary
objective was to create an anti-vehicle barrier. If the vehicles
could be stopped, then a major quantity of enemy supplies would be
halted.

While enemy vehicle traffic was the primary target, it was also
intended to detect individuals walking down the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
To assist with detection of individuals, small bomblets were dropped along the trail. When
someone stepped on a bomblet it would detonate, and this small
explosion was picked up by the sensors.

In November 1970, the 553d RW was inactivated. The 554th RS
transferred to Nakhon Phanom
RTAFB to operate QU-22 "Baby Bats", while the 553rd
RS remained at Korat with 11 Batcats until December 1971, when it
returned to Otis AFB,
Massachusetts.

Det. 1 remained at Korat until June 1970, when it left Thailand.
It returned in November 1971, now known as "Disco", after MiGs
threatened B-52 and other aircraft operating in southern Laos. It
remained at Korat, supporting Operation Linebacker, Linebacker II and other USAF operations,
until June 1, 1974, when it returned to McClellan AFB, California.

The Wild Weasel concept was originally proposed in 1965 as a
method of countering the increasing North Vietnamese SAM threat,
using volunteer crews. The mission of the Wild Weasels was to
eliminate Communist Surface to Air Missile sites in North
Vietnam.

In early 1966, standard F-105D's with no special Electronic countermeasures
(ECM) equipment accompanied F-100 Wild Weasel I aircraft equipped
with basic ECM equipment. In general, the F-100 would identify the
SAM site and the F-105D's would fly the actual strike. The mission
gradually evolved with the addition of new weapons and ECM
equipment until the F-4 Phantom II replaced the F-100 and the
F-105D was replaced by the more capable and specialized two-place
F-105F and -G models.

The tactics employed on the Iron Hand
missions were primarily designed to suppress the SA-2 and gun-laying RADAR defenses of North Vietnam during the
ingress, attack and egress of the main strike force. In the
suppression role, AGM-45 Shrike missiles were employed to
destroy, or at least harass, the SA-2 and/or fire control RADAR
which guided the SA-2 missiles.

The 12th Tactical Fighter squadron was equipped with the F-105G
and was temporarily reassigned to Takhli in June 1967. The
Detachment returned to its main unit at Korat and the 44th TFS was
returned to Korat in September 1970 from the 355th TFW to the 388th
TFW when the decision was made to consolidate the units of the Wild
Weasel mission. With their return, the 6010th Wild Weasel
Squadron was formed. The 6010th TFS's aircraft flew with
tail code "ZB". The squadron was redesigned the 17th Wild
Weasel Squadron on 1 December 1971 and its aircraft
recoded "JB".

In February 1972, the 67th TFS returned on Temporary Duty to
Korat from Kadena AB, this time being equipped with the
EF-4C aircraft. The EF-4C was the initial Wild Weasel version of
the Phantom. It was a modified version of the F-4C, designed in
parallel with the F-105G Wild Weasel program. The EF-4Cs suffered
from certain deficiencies which limited their combat effectiveness.
For example, they were unable to carry the Standard ARM.
Consequently, the EF-4C was seen only as an interim Wild Weasel
aircraft, pending the introduction of a more suitable type. In
February 1973, after the end combat operations in Vietnam, the 67th
TFS with its EF-4C "Wild Weasles" were withdrawn and returned to
Kadena.

Electronic Warfare
Mission

Lockheed C/EC-130E-LM Hercules Serial 62-1857 of the 7th ACCS at
Korat, 10 May 1974. This aircraft survived the Vietnam War and was
converted to C-130E-II, later to be redesignated EC-130E in 1976.
Later, this aircraft served as an EC-130E Airborne Battlefield
Command and Control Center (ABCCC) aircraft at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (1999)

Also in November 1970, the 42nd Tactical Electronic
Warfare Squadron (TEWS), which flew EB-66s,
transferred to Korat from Takhli. The EB-66C/E flew radar and
communications jamming missions to disrupt enemy defenses and early
warning capabilities.

Korat's table of organization became (December 1970):

388th Tactical Fighter Wing

6010th/17th Wild Weasel (F-105G Tail Code: ZB/JB)

34th Tactical Fighter (F-4E Tail Code: JJ)

469th Tactical Fighter (F-4E Tail Code: JV)

42d TEWS (EB-66 Tail Code: JW)

Det 1., 552d Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing
(EC-121T)

553rd Reconnaissance Squadron (EC-121R)

Special Operations
Mission

On 1 December 1971 the 7th Airborne
Command and Control Squadron (ACCS) was assigned to
the 388th TFW from Udon RTAFB and began flying missions in its EC-130E
"Hercules" aircraft, which were equipped with command and control
capsules. The 7th ACCS played an extremely important role in the
conduct of air operations. During the action in Southeast Asia,
the squadron had a minimum of two aircraft airborne 24 hours a day
directing and coordinating the effective employment of tactical air
resources throughout SEA. Radio call signs for these missions were
"Moonbeam", "Alleycat", "Hillsboro", and "Cricket"

The 354th TFW Forward Echelon at Korat also became a composite
unit. Along with the Myrtle Beach personnel, elements of the
23d Tactical Fighter Wing from England AFB LA and the
355th Tactical Fighter Wing from Davis-Monthan AFB AZ were
deployed to support the A-7D aircraft. These airmen rotated on
179-day assignments (the limit for TDY assignments) to Korat from
these CONUS
bases until early 1974.

In March 1973 A-7D aircraft were drawn from the deployed 354th
TFW squadrons and assigned to the 388th TFW as the 3d
Tactical Fighter Squadron. Some TDY personnel from the
354th TFW were assigned to the 388th and placed on permanent party
status.

On 31 October 1972, the 469th TFS was deactivated in place as
part of the drawdown of forces in Southeast Asia and its aircraft
and a few select crews used to augment the 34th TFS.

On 2 January 1973, Det 1. 561st Tactical Fighter
Squadron deployed from George Air Force Base to Korat
flying specially equipped F-105Gs. With the end of combat in
August, the squadron returned to the 35th TFW at George on 5
September.

Laos and
Cambodia 1973

The Paris Peace Accords were signed on
January 27, 1973 by the governments of North Vietnam, South
Vietnam, and the United States with the intent to establish 'peace'
in Vietnam. The accords effectively ended United States military
operations in North and South Vietnam. Laos and Cambodia, however, were not signatories to the
Paris agreement and remained in states of war with their internal
rebel forces.

The United States was helping the Royal Laotian government
achieve whatever advantage possible before working out a settlement
with the Laotian Communists and their allies.

The USAF flew 386 combat sorties over Laos during January and
1,449 in February 1973. On 17 April, the USAF flew its last mission
over Laos, working a handful of targets requested by the Laotian
government.

In Cambodia there was no peace in 1973. The USAF carried out a
massive bombing campaign to try to stop the
vietmins on the Ho-Chi-Minh trail.

Congressional pressure in Washington grew against these
bombings, and on 30 June 1973, the United States Congress passed Public law PL 93-50 and
93-52, which cut off all funds for combat in Cambodia and all of
Indochina effective 15 August 1973. Air strikes by the USAF peaked
just before the deadline, as the Cambodian Army engaged a force of
about 10,000 Khmer Rouge rebels that encircled Phnom Penh.

15 August 1973 The Last
Day Of Combat

At 1100 hours (local), 15 August 1973, the congressionally
mandated cutoff went into effect, bringing combat activities over
the skies of Cambodia to an end. A-7 and F-4's from Korat flew
strike missions sometimes less than 10 miles (16 km) from
Phnom Penh that morning before the cutoff. The final day marked the
conclusion of an intense 160-day campaign, during which the USAF
expended 240,000 tons of bombs.

At Korat, two A-7D pilots from the 354th TFW returned from
flying the last USAF combat mission over Cambodia. Members of the
news media had arrived at the base earlier to mark this auspicious
occasion. However, the A-7 pilots did not display the excitement
that the journalists were expecting.

The Cambodian people did not understand why the United States
would, on this arbitrary date, leave, especially after their
request for assistance. This lead to a faster take over of the
situation by the Khmer Rouge.

Post-combat activities
(1973/75)

After the end of combat operations in August 1973, the 388th TFW
entered into intensive training program to maintain combat
readiness and continued to fly electronic surveillance and
intelligence missions. Also, it was announced by the United States
and Thailand that of the 43,000 Americans and 500 aircraft
stationed in Thailand, about 3,500 men and 100 aircraft would be
withdrawn.

The F-4 and A-7 aircraft practiced bombing and intercept
missions in western Thailand. A large exercise was held on the
first Monday of every month, involving all USAF units in Thailand.
"Commando Scrimmage" covered skills such as dogfighting, aerial
refueling, airborne command posts and forward air controllers.
These exercises were taken very seriously. The A-7D aircraft were
pitted against the F-4 aircraft in dissimilar air combat
exercises.

347th Tactical Fighter
Wing

General Dynamics F-111A Serial Number 67-081 of the 429th TFS/347th
TFW taken at Nellis AFB Nevada in 1975

Lockheed C/AC-130A-LM Hercules Serial 55-0029 of the 16th Special
Operations Squadron, May 1974. This aircraft survived the war and
eventually was sent to AMARC for scrapping 15 November 1994

On 19 July 1974, the 16th Special Operations
Squadron was assigned to Korat from Ubon Royal Thai
Air Force Base. This was an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship squadron which
had been assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing at Ubon
RTAFB. In April and May 1975, aircraft of the 388th TFW provided
air cover and escort during the evacuation of Americans from Phnom
Penh, Cambodia, and of Americans and selected Vietnamese from
Saigon, South Vietnam.

On 14-15 May 1975, aircraft assigned to Korat (3rd TFS A-7D,
34th TFS F-4E, 428th TFS F-111A and 16th SOS AC-130) provided air
cover in what is considered the last battle of the Vietnam war, the
recovery of the SS Mayaguez after it was hijacked by
Cambodian communists.

USAF
withdrawal

The drawdown at Korat RTAFB began in mid-1974.

On 15 March 1974, the EB-66's of the 42nd Tactical
Electronic Warfare Squadron were sent to AMARC and the
squadron was deactivated.

The 56th ARRS was absorbed into the 40th ARRS which moved
(along with its CH/HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant helicopters and
personnel) from Nakhon Phanom RTAB in 1975.

The United States ended its involvement in Southeast Asia by
treaty and disengagement rather than by military victory. After the
fall of Saigon, relations between Washington and Bangkok turned sour. In May 1975, the Royal
Thai Government asked the United States to remove all of its combat
forces (27,000 troops, 300 aircraft) by 1976.

On 30 June 1975, the 347th TFW F-111A's and their two squadrons
(428th and 429th TFS) were deactivated. The F-111's were sent to
the 422d Fighter Weapon Squadron at Nellis
Air Force Base, Nevada.
The 347th became an F-4E Wing at Moody AFB, Georgia.

At the end of 1975, there were only three combat squadrons at
Korat, consisting of 24 F-4D's of the 34th TFS, 24 A-7D's of the
3rd TFS, and 6 AC-130 "Spectre" aircraft of the 16th Special
Operations Squadron.

The 16th Special Operations Squadron returned
to the states, transferring to Eglin AF Aux Airfield #9 (Hurlburt
Field), FL, on 12 December 1975

The 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron was
transferred to Clark AB, Philippines on 15 December. At Clark, the
A-7Ds were going to be formed as the 6014th TFS, however the A-7s
were instead returned to CONUS for distribution to Air National
Guard units. The 3rd TFS was reformed as an F-4E/G squadron at
Clark and assigned tail code PN. The squadron remained at Clark as
part of the 3rd TFW until Clark was closed on 31 December 1991
after the Mount
Pinatubo eruption.

The 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron remained
part of the 388th TFW.

On 23 December 1975, the 388th TFW and its remaining Squadron,
the 34th TFS transferred to Hill AFB, Utah where it also gained the
4th TFS and 421st TFS. The USAF retained a small flight of security
police at Korat to insure base security and to deter theft of
equipment until the final return of the base to the Thai
government.

The USAF officially turned Korat over to the Royal Thai
Government on 26 February 1976.

Thai Air Force Use After
1975

After the US withdrawal in 1976, the Thai Air Force consolidated
the equipment left by the departing USAF units in accordance with
government-to-government agreements, and the RTAF assumed use of
the base at Korat. The American withdrawal had quickly revealed to
the Thai government the inadequacy of its air force in the event of
a conventional war in Southeast Asia. Accordingly, in the 1980s the
government allotted large amounts of money for the purchase of
modern aircraft and spare parts.

Thirty-eight F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers purchased from the
Northrop Corporation formed the nucleus of the Thai air force's
defense and tactical firepower. The F-5Es were accompanied by
training teams of American civilian and military technicians, who
worked with members of the Thai air force.

In addition to the F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers, OV-10C
aircraft, transports, and helicopters were added to the air force
equipment inventory. In 1985 the United States Congress authorized
the sale of the F-16 fighter to Thailand.

By the late 1980s, Korat, Takhli, and Don Mueang Air Base
outside Bangkok, which the air force shared with civil aviation,
were the primary operational holdings of the RTAF. Maintenance of
the facilities at other bases abandoned by the United States proved
too costly and exceeded Thai needs and were turned over to the
Department of Civil Aviation for civil use. Nonetheless, all
runways were still available for military training and emergency
use.